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Central Coast, CA: Top 5 Fun Activities for Kids (and Parents too)

April 5, 2011 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

1. Hike it up

The most well-traveled parents catch their breath when they hike Big Sur cliffs, explore the Point Lobos tide pools or roam the talus caves of Pinnacles National Monument. Kids can teach us a thing or two about the joy of exploring in these natural wonders.
In addition to self-guided nature activities, Monterey County’s parks have plenty of ranger-led excursions that cater to the whole family. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park’s Campfire program runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with multiple ranger-led hikes and walks daily. Tweens can get a taste of independence with hour-long “Junior Ranger” activities, giving Mom and Dad a chance to kick back at the campsite.
Edu-vacation bonus: The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District offers weekend hikes and nature exploration activities designed for kids from tots to teenagers as well as their parents. Introduce your toddler to butterflies in the morning, your tween to the adventure sport of geocacheing on an afternoon exploration, or your teen to owls on a special evening hike. Tweens and teens can even learn basic first aid skills at all-weekend classes.

2. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Who doesn’t like fast cars? Kids will rev up to the auto races, while mom and dad can get up close and personal with the cars of their dreams.
For parents, one of the best elements of a race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is the relaxed atmosphere. Mom and Dad can bring in food and drink for the kids, set up camp chairs on the grass, and have a family picnic while watching the action. Children can also burn off steam with a trip to the playground near turns 5 and 6. For a totally immersive experience, reserve a campsite at the raceway and set up your home away from home.
At many of the races, children will have the opportunity to meet racecar drivers or, at the Red Bull Grand Prix, motorcycle riders. Younger children can participate in family activities in the racetrack infield, while older kids may want to browse the merchant booths and watch the live bands.

3. Down on the Farm

Get dirty. Harvest honey. Pick organic vegetables. The best way to create a memorable experience with children is to get down and dirty alongside them, and several of Monterey County’s farms offer endless options for “quality time.”
The Farm, located in Salinas, is a working farm designed to tell the story of Monterey County’s agricultural heritage. Giant sculptures of farm hands are scattered throughout the fields, illustrating the acts of growing and harvesting food. Families can tour The Farm, meet real farmers, and learn how vegetables are grown. Kids can even visit farm animals such as goats, chickens and rabbits at The Farm’s miniature zoo. Events throughout the year celebrate the seasons with activities and educational events.
Families can also explore gardens from pioneering organic food producers Earthbound Farm. Earthbound Farm’s Carmel Valley Farm Stand is surrounded by the Cut-Your-Own Herb Garden and a Kids’ Garden. Throughout the year, the Farm Stand has activities designed to educate children and their parents about organic farming and gardening. Reward your family after class with delicious local produce, organic ice cream and organic frozen yogurt from the Farm Stand.

4. Monterey Bay Aquarium

We know why this gem is great for children — but the Monterey Bay Aquarium is also a big draw for adults. Parents also giggle with abandon at the sea otters and gasp in awe at the Kelp Forest exhibit while learning a thing or two about our global commitment to ocean life. The family can take turns, first participating in child-focused hands-on activities, then enjoying some of the more tranquil and exotic exhibits.
Meals in the dining room are several cuts above average zoo and aquarium fare; the Monterey Bay Aquarium Restaurant features grownup, sustainable cuisine devised by celebrity chef Cindy Pawlcyn as well as some of Monterey County’s best views of Monterey Bay.

5. For the Love of Wine

In Monterey County, making first-rate wines is a family business — and Monterey’s wineries understand that families involve children. Some wine tasting rooms host play areas, video rooms, and kids activities to ensure the kids are entertained while the adults enjoy a Cabernet or Chardonnay. (The one place children are not allowed, according to California state law: the actual tasting bar.)
In the Cannery Row area, check out Pierce Ranch Vineyards, A Taste of Monterey or Scheid Vineyards. In the Salinas Valley, stop by the Scheid Vineyards tasting room in Greenfield, where kids can play bocce ball as their parents taste on the patio.
Edu-vacation bonus: For an experience as educational as it is delicious, bring the children on a tour of Chateau Julien, where children can learn about the wine making process. Kids can taste grape juice (sometimes even the unfermented juice of wine grapes) and play on the lawn while their parents taste wine. Who knows? You could inspire your child to embark on a career of wine making.

Ready for a trip to the Central Coast? The original version of this article, Top 5 Fun Activities for Kids (and Parents
too)” can be found at http://www.seemonterey.com/tourist-activities/family-adventures/5-fun-
activities-for-kids-and-parents SeeMonterey.com.

Islands Restaurant: Fine Burgers and Drinks. A Dinner Review

January 25, 2011 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Last week we tried a new restaurant. It had me sold at their tagline “fine burgers and drinks.” When you have 3 young children, the extent of our fine dining consists of a drive-thru and not getting out of our car. Please don’t peek in our car windows. About 35 miles away from home in beautiful Monterey, you’ll find Islands Restaurant at the Del Monte Shopping Center. I checked out their menu online and it was perfect for our family, children’s menu to boot. A chain that has restaurants in Arizona, Colorado, Las Vegas, NV, and mostly in Southern California, your first impression is that it’s a place you can relax, yet get top quality food!

The Service
We were greeted with a smile, the host seated us and gave us the name of the waiter (Frank) who’d be serving us. Frank showed up within seconds and let us know he was going to take care of us. Throughout the night he was always checking in, even other servers and the host stopped by to make sure we were enjoying our dinner. It was a weeknight, though the place was pretty crowded, so we were impressed!

The Atmosphere
The restaurant curved around a neatly designed bar area, but it wasn’t loud. Televisions hung around the bar and from two angles from our table and again, not loud or intrusive. Basketball was playing as well as surfing documentaries, so it was visually active. The walls contained the coolest photographic art of beach activities and it was a really comfortable space.

The Food

We started with a quesadilla appetizer. There were enough slices for 4 people with a side of chunky pico de gallo and sour cream. It wasn’t too much so that we’re full before our meal comes. My youngest daughter used most of it as her dinner, she eats like a bird! We were happy to see a kids menu which includes a drink and choice of fries or applesauce and carrots as the side dishes along with all the kid favorites.

For the main course I chose the Baja tacos which are filled with fajita-marinated chicken, peppers and onions. They were amazing. Chicken fajitas are one of my absolute favorites, and the seasoning was perfect. I love the flavor or onions, but I did pull them out of the taco, leaving the meat and the bell peppers in the taco. On the side I had mildly seasoned beans that I stuck right into the taco and added the salsa. I couldn’t eat those fast enough. Choice to get 2 or 3. Two was perfect for me.

My husband got the basic burger, Big Wave with Cheese and it came with fries. It was a man-size burger and it was cooked medium well and he said it was “better than Mission Burger!” which is huge! That’s the place where we had found the best burger locally…until now!! I’ll definitely have to test that claim next time we go. My son had the Jr. Tiki Tenders from the “Gremmie” Menu (little surfer) and he said they were delicious!

Dessert

There’s a small but delicious menu of desserts and smoothies available if your stomach can take it after all that great food! The prices were right for the ice cream sundae ($2.99) and the brownie sundae ($1.99) so we couldn’t pass up ordering one of each. I was in 7th heaven when I took the first taste of the brownie, it was WARM and the contrast of that and the cold vanilla ice cream was divine.

The kids shared the ice cream sundae with 2 scoops of ice cream, chocolate syrup, nuts and a cherry. It was a perfect ending to a fabulous dinner. I was thrilled to learn that our meal was price at just $44 for the four of us (my oldest daughter had dance class). It was reasonable and often our drive-thru meals can cost us up to $30 for the five of us, for low quality food and service.

Next time we’ll remember this place for date night as Monterey is somewhere we go regularly. I’d love to sit in the bar and sip a few cocktails, enjoy a new appetizer and make it a different type of night. Check out their great menu, friend them on Facebook, and find a location near you!

We were given gift cards to pay for our meal. The opinions expressed are our honest tried and true experience.

La Playa Hotel in Carmel-By-The-Sea Review

December 10, 2010 by The Mom Jen 1 Comment

If you are visiting the Central Coast of California, Carmel-By-The-Sea is a must visit city for shopping, dining, visiting the beach, or sight-seeing. This beautiful town is know for it’s natural scenery and artistic history and is home to one of the California Missions, Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo and famous golf courses (Pebble Beach is 5 minutes away).

Just about 4 blocks from the beach and 4 blocks from quaint downtown Ocean Street you’ll find La Playa Hotel.

With its convenient proximity to the Pacific Ocean, its impeccably landscaped grounds, an intimate lobby, and professional staff, it comes as no surprise that La Playa Hotel and Cottages-by-the-Sea has been recognized as the Grande Dame of Carmel. Treat yourself to the landmark-classic choice of Carmel hotels, where you will find each detail well thought out and anticipated every time you return. A Mediterranean villa in 1905, today La Playa still rests in a picture-perfect setting – amidst oceans of flowers and cypress, with the sea itself just a stroll away. Here, design, décor, and atmosphere are all in the classic tradition of good taste. Discover this legendary Carmel California hotel, amid some of the world’s most spectacular scenery.

The Landscape
Coming up on the hotel you’ll find it has a meticulously manicured layout. Just in the day we were there, we ran into 3 separate gardeners working to keep the grounds pristine and beautiful. Benches and tables and chairs adorn the gardens to sit and read, enjoy a cup of coffee or nice glass of wine.

The Hotel
As a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America, La Playa is intimately connected to California’s colorful past, with a rich heritage all its own. Inside the lobby you’ll find many pieces of art including paintings, photographs, and maps dating back 80+ years. My husband is a huge fan of California history and along with being a land surveyor, the maps and photos of the area consumed him for a good hour. The pool is heated to a nice 82 degrees year round. There are conference rooms, a spa, and The Terrace Grill restaurant on the premises. We had dinner at The Terrace Grill during happy hour, where cocktails were regular price yet there were many crudites free with a drink purchase. Dinner is reasonably priced for the area (around $15/person), my husband enjoying a steak sandwich and fries, while I enjoyed the penne with sausage, both prepared perfectly for us. Internet access as well as a business center is offered during your stay to look for nearby attractions if need be.

The Accommodations
You can stay in the hotel in a luxurious room, suite, with a patio, near the pool or in a beautiful cottage just beyond the main building. A few of the rooms available have an ocean view, while you can’t go wrong anywhere at La Playa.The cottages make a nice romantic escape with fireplaces, decks, full kitchens, and other fabulous amenities depending on your choice. My husband and I were treated to the owner’s cottage with full kitchen, patio, living/dining room, fireplace and two bedrooms. The gas fireplace was lovely as we watched tv with our drinks and relaxed.

In the morning, we strolled down to the beach and took in the surfers, the dog walkers, and the view of Pebble Beach Golf Course. It was an overcast day, but about 58 degrees. The sand on this stretch of the coast is finer white powder than just south in Monterey and Pacific Grove, the water more turquoise. Take a ride to Carmel-by-the-Sea, and if you get a chance, stay at the La Playa Hotel, it’s a splurge worth making! We feel so very lucky that this is a spot we can drive to in less than an hour and take in all it’s beauty!

Our accommodations were compensated, all opinions are our 100% tried-and-true experience.

Monterey Fisherman’s Wharf: Cafe Fina and Dominico’s Restaurant Reviews

September 20, 2010 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

For as long as I can remember, the Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, CA was a place we’d go on the weekends to see sea lions, shop like tourists and where my parents would eat fine seafood. As a picky child, I would order burgers and grilled cheese, and I’d look forward to the sweets at the two fabulous candy stores, but now that I’ve extended my palate I love heading to the wharf and taking in the fabulous cuisine of all the restaurants that are there.

Last week my husband and I had the amazing opportunity to dine-around two awarding-winning restaurants that I look forward to sharing with you and venturing back to in the future! Midway down the wharf you will find Cafe Fina, known for it’s homemade pasta and seafood specialties, this restaurant was also made famous on the Food Network when Rachael Ray stopped in and dined on her show $40 a Day! Walking into the restaurant you find a cozy, yet welcoming space with photos on the walls that include Ray and many other celebrities, you immediately know you’re in a great company.

We were taken upstairs to a corner table that overlooked the sunset on the harbor and we were delighted with a sea lion show below and were amazed at the millions of jelly fish visible. It was a Thursday night and the restaurant had quite a crowd, another good sign. We were greeted by the wonderful Roxanne who let us know that we’d be enjoying our first few courses there then would be taken over to Domenico’s across the wharf for our next selections and dessert. Roxanne was a delight, very attentive and full of rich history of the restaurant as well as the food preparation.

We were started with fresh french bread and homemade garlic butter they make in the restaurant, and sadly do not sell. If they had, I’d buy it in bulk, spread on warm bread the scent was pleasantly pungent and the taste creamy and delicious. Soon after our Heirloom Caprese came out, and I was shocked at the size of the home-grown tomatoes! Topped with soft fresh mozzarella, balsamic vinegar, basil, oil and an anchovy, I immediately dipped my bread and soaked up all the goodness before I took to the tomato which was juicy and perfectly ripe. My husband headed straight for the anchovy that was a signature salty touch to this italian favorite.

Knowing much more was coming our way, we held off on too much bread and soon the Mussels arrived. Cooked perfectly, the mussels were tender not chewy and were in a tasty wine and tomato sauce with a kick, perfect for bread dipping as well!

So this ended our visit at Cafe Fina, next we walked across the wharf to Domenico’s and were introduced to James, who gave another fabulous table with a gorgeous night view!

This restaurant has a great bar and lounge area for those wanting to start the night off with a drink, if you’re a sports fan you can also sit on a couch by the fire and watch the game before or after dinner! Both restaurants are so relaxed, you need not be dressed to the nines, but can expect high quality service throughout your evening. My husband ordered some local wine from the gracious Burgess, and our next course was served, Pasta Capri, a Domenico’s original featuring baby bay shrimp, fresh tomatoes, black olives and green onions over linguini in a butter and clam broth. This dish was light but full of flavor with a generous portion of shrimp, and felt like a hearty soup. I will order this dish next time!!

Our last course was something that was new to me. My dad has been making, smoking, and eating salmon for years and I have never had it until this evening. We were treated with the Cedar Plank Wild Sockeye Salmon, which by this time of the evening we were feeling really full from all the fabulous dishes. Cooked directly atop the cedar plank above rosemary and topped with a honey glaze, my first experience with salmon was amazing. The fish was so moist and melted in your mouth. I anticipated a “fishier” flavor, but experience the complete opposite. Lastly, Roxanne returned from the sister restaurant and delighted us with more history of the dessert we were presented, cream puffs, a recipe given to the owners from a local bakery that has since closed.

Our experience could not have been any better, we sampled some of the two restaurant’s best dishes and left satisfied in more ways than one. The service was impeccable and the food was fresh and has made us fans for life. We’re proud to have had the experience and hope you will visit on your next trip to Monterey, CA!

Our meal was compensated in exchange for our tried-and-true experience, thank you David, James, Roxanne, Burgess and the staff of Cafe Fina and Domenico’s.

Best Western, Seacliff Inn: Gorgeous Grounds for a Romantic Getaway

September 15, 2010 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Living in California definitely has it’s perks. One, is living so close to the coast, as we’re less than an hour from the ocean. Nestled near Santa Cruz on Hwy. 1, about a quarter mile from Seacliff Beach, CA you’ll find a wonderful hotel whether you are vacationing with your family or if you want to grab a loved one for a romantic getaway–Best Western, Seacliff Inn!

The latter worked in our favor last weekend and my husband and I found ourselves in a location we’ll for sure head back to, even with the kids!

The Grounds: click on any photo to enlarge it Upon check-in the staff was very kind and I was already intrigued by the beautiful fish tank in behind the desk in the lobby. Heading to our room I noticed the entire grounds consists of two story buildings, reminding me more of a plantation resort than a everyday hotel chain. The grounds were impeccable and one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in a while!

Gorgeous plants and flowers, an open lawn area in the center of the property near the pool. Wonderful gazebos with benches were placed around. Lots of room to walk around and a few times my husband and I strolled to check out the pool and commented on how really beautiful it was and reminded of us of something we saw in Hawaii. There was even a sail from a sailboat tucked behind some plants that was really neat.

There is a heated pool available and a jacuzzi. Although the beach is nearby the pool is a family bonus alternative, warmer than the 55 degree ocean! The weather turned out foggy the entire weekend I had my mind set on the spa, but it was full every time we checked.

The Room:
The hotel hosts 149 rooms (including 10 suites). The suites have lots of room for a couple and family, with all the amenities of home: television in bedroom and living area, fridge, microwave, two bathrooms, one with a fantastic jazuzzi tub (for when the pool/spa is full), one with an AWESOME rainfall showerhead, and nice long patio with doors leading from both the living room and bedroom.

The living room couch pulls out to a bed, and the room is separated from the bedroom by bifold doors. The gorgeous bed is not only pretty with it’s four poster frame, but so comfortable with a cozy down comforter that was so luxurious in the cool morning. Artificial flowers accent the tables and dressers and compliment the wall art around the suite making feel homey and inviting.
Did I mention the shower head in the smaller of the two bathrooms? Truly like a rainfall, gentle yet efficient, this sells me alone. We only had one night in the hotel, but the jacuzzi tub would have been another selling point for staying in one of the luxury suites. Pop open a bottle of champagne and relax in the privacy of the room.

Adjoining Restaurant: We really enjoyed not having to leave the premises to dine, drink, and enjoy entertainment, Severino’s Bar and Grillis attached to the hotel and is a weekend source of fun.

There’s a restaurant portion serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with indoor and outdoor dining among the beautiful koi pond and waterfall. A lounge and bar area serves appetizers, drink, and even meals and on some weekends hosts bands and dancing! We found a window seat and noticed they had set up for a banquet aside the pond with a buffet.

The full bar hosts all the usual drinks plus house specialties like the Bikini Martini. We ordered appetizers and they were delicious and led us into the evening as the band started up and played fabulous tunes from the 60’s!

The same lounge serves complimentary breakfast each morning for guests and was great source of fun for our Saturday night.

Best Western Seacliff Inn offers a lot for the couple looking for a romantic getaway! I know that if I’m looking for a place to stay that is close to home, yet gives you the feeling of being away on a luxury vacation, I will choose this hotel again…and again. The restaurant/lounge can be visited independently for a nice dinner out with bonus entertainment. Not to mention if the weather were just a tad warmer, the beach is so close!
We were treated to a suite for one night in exchange for our tried-and-true experience.